Fast-acting sub-perception therapy spinal cord stimulation found to reduce back pain

Patients with chronic pain treated with the novel Fast-Acting Sub-Perception Therapy (FAST) spinal cord stimulation (SCS) systems may achieve significant and durable pain relief for up to 12 months of follow-up, according to a study presented at the 23rd Annual Pain Medicine Meeting, a meeting of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, held from Nov. 21 to 23 in Las Vegas.

Magdalena Anitescu, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Chicago, and colleagues evaluated the effectiveness of FAST and additional SCS therapy options for chronic pain. The analysis included 12-month follow-up data for patients implanted with SCS systems (WaveWriter Systems) for chronic pain.

The researchers found that the primary end point of a ≥50 percent reduction in targeted pain with no increase in average daily opioid medications at three months was achieved by 16 of 20 patients. Treatment responder rates of 81, 84, and 90 percent were achieved at three (52 patients), six (38 patients), and 12 months (30 patients) of follow-up.

At a mean onset duration of 2.6 minutes, ≥50 percent pain relief was achieved. A mean 5-point reduction in the verbal rating scale low back pain score was achieved at 12 months. An additional 28-point mean improvement in the Oswestry Disability Index score at 12 months was seen. At all time points, consistently high levels of patient satisfaction were observed (>84 percent reporting much or very much improved).

“These outcomes are consistent with real-world observational studies in the United States of America and European Union,” the authors write.

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